Poultry exports set to drop 40% on bird flu

Bird flu may hit the domestic poultry sector, leading to a decline in its exports by about 40 per cent, according to industry estimates.

"The impact of bird flu would be seen in the export of poultry products in the current fiscal year," said Animal Husbandry Secretary Charusheel Sohoni on the sidelines of a conference on the Indian poultry sector organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

In 2005-06, the country had exported poultry products worth Rs 326 crore. However, this year, there would be an impact of bird flu on the poultry exports.

The department of animal husbandry is trying to get Japan to import poultry products from India. Currently, India only exports egg powder to Japan.

"We are trying to explore new markets, particularly in South-East Asia, for the Indian poultry products so that the export does not decline drastically," said K S Money, chairman, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda).

"Though some countries have lifted the restrictions on Indian poultry in August when India was declared free from bird flu, some are still not allowing our produce. Five months of the current year (from April to August) have passed without any export. On that account, the export could decline by nothing less than 50 per cent," said Shashi Kapur, president of Indian Poultry Federation.

"Japan could be a very important export market for the Indian poultry industry. Prior to the bird flu outbreak, it was importing poultry produce mainly from China and Thailand. However, these two nations are still not free from the flu and Japan is importing from America," said Upma Chawdhry, joint secretary of the department of animal husbandry.

In February this year, bird flu was discovered in the country. About 10.5 lakh birds were culled to prevent the spread of the epidemic.

The export of poultry products had suffered a setback and was stopped. On August 11, the country was declared free of bird flu and export of poultry had resumed.

Chawdhry also said the department is working with the forest and animal husbandry departments of the states to ensure that there is no outbreak of bird flu. This is important as the season of migratory birds has just started and would continue till March.

The industry also wants a national meat and poultry board to be set up by the government to protect the overall interests of the industry. Charusheela Sohoni, however, said there is no decision to set up such a board as of now, but "we are open to such an idea".